it’s mainly about food, really
Archive for April, 2005
April 20, 2005 at 8:05 am · Filed under Adventures!
Spring has sprung! Yesterday’s weather was gorgeous and much had to be done about it. After my one class of the day, Jules picked me and Paul up from campus and we went out to lunch in Pioneer Square. Not really having much of an idea of where we wanted to eat, we wandered around ’til we encountered the aroma of barbecue. More specifically, Longhorn Barbecue. The place was pretty fantastic. Even the employees who worked there acted like the happiest people on Earth (and not in the obnoxious way). I can always appreciate enthusiasm for meat. For about six bucks each, Jules and I shared a big plate of barbecue beef and pork ribs, macaroni salad, and two servings of corn bread that we could hardly finish. A pretty awesome find on a sunny day.
Afterward, it was time to walk off some of the barbecue before we hit Ben and Jerry’s for Free Cone Day, so we walked around the waterfront.
Me and Paul’s attempt at replicating a clothing ad.
We found a spot at the end of Pier 56 to hang out and enjoy the view. I took photos. These two pigeons were hopping on top of each other ’til we realized they were having sex. Feeling all sorts of weird, we promptly left and drove back up to U-Village for some free ice cream. The line wasn’t bad when we got there and no matter how many times I take advantage of a free ice cream day, I still find it odd to approach the register without my wallet out. In any case, ice cream was had and the mission of the day was completed.
Later that night, Jules cooked dinner for me and Casey and then I ran off to Capoeira again. Only half the original class showed up for the second session, but I can’t complain about that. It was a good workout. Anyway, I like my Tuesdays.
April 18, 2005 at 10:40 pm · Filed under This Just In
Tomorrow (Tues 4/19) is Ben & Jerry’s Free Cone Day!
Get some.
April 17, 2005 at 2:41 pm · Filed under Adventures!
On Friday night, we went out for April’s 21st birthday @ Mojito Cafe in lower Queen Anne. Check out the night’s photos here. Think great latin food, salsa club, live band, dancing, and steamy windows. Great night out. Much props to Pril for organizing the event. Am inspired to pursue salsa lessons, haha. (Ryan has already declined.)
Saturday my parents drove up to Seattle and I had lunch with them and my brother at the Chinese buffet. Later that night it was another IUGA LAN Party in Mary Gates. Probably the most fun I’ve had at one yet. Started off with some of the usual suspects for drinks at the College Inn, proceeded by time in the fourth floor hall, downing pizza, and just hanging out. Then it was to the iSalon for some Naruto action with David, Justin, Mike, and Jen Zee. (I’m on episode #104 now!) Mellowed out after that, burned some time on the Internet ’til the usual clean-up time at one. I still can’t fathom how everyone can game for those seven hours or so. I get dizzy just watching Unreal.
Anyway it’s Sunday and I have stuffs to study. Bah.
April 15, 2005 at 3:38 pm · Filed under Martial Arts
One day the Zen master Nan-in had a visit from a foreign scholar of eastern religions who came to learn about Zen. Nan-in gladly met with the visitor, but when they sat down together, the scholar proceeded to talk about his immense knowledge of eastern religions. After much listening, Nan-in suggested they have tea. He poured the tea into the scholar’s cup until it was full, but then he kept right on pouring. The tea then cascaded over the sides of the cup onto the saucer. Soon the saucer was full, and it spilled over onto the table and washed down onto the floor.
“Wait, what did you say you had tonight?” my boss asked as I was walking out the door.
“Er… Capoeira. Have you heard of it?” I replied, certain he hadn’t.
“Yeah, Brazillian martial arts. Originated from slaves. You do that?”
“Um, well no. This is my first time. At least… formally,” I admitted. He smiled.
“What? Where have you done it informally? South America?” he joked.
“Well, no. Acutally, I’ve studied Shaolin Kung Fu,” I paused to watch the look on his face, “And well, at one point my school shared our studio with a Capoeira school. We’d play around together every once in a while,” Wow, he most totally think I’m making this up as I go, “Anyway, gotta go! See you next week!” I said as I hurried out the door.
The story of why a Brazillian martial art is somewhat familiar to me sounds surreal enough in my head, that having voiced even part of it outloud made me feel uneasy. It’s not something that one can quickly explain. I left out the beginning of the story, the part that my Sifu had actually taken some Capoeira before he met and trained in Kung Fu with Master Yang in Boston. I left out that Northern-style Longfist, one of the two Kung Fu styles he learned and would later teach, is a long-range fighting style, that combined with Capoeira’s beat and dance-like motion, worked well for training, a fact he brought with him to Washington when he opened his first martial arts studio. That’s what I’ve been told at least.
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April 15, 2005 at 10:57 am · Filed under This Just In
Hm, that’s a first.
April 13, 2005 at 9:22 pm · Filed under Adventures!, Martial Arts
I had my first Capoeira class yesterday. 7:30PM-10PM. The instructor took class over an hour the designated time. I loved every minute of it. Walked back home soaking in sweat, legs shaking in exhaustion. It hurts to walk, bend over, or even shrug my shoulders. I want to tell you about it. About walking in the door and being greeted by a large black man, whose arms were thicker than my thighs, asking, “You here for Capoeira?” in his heavy Portuguese accent.
I want to talk about how the hours flew by, how I never sat down for a moment to take a break, and how quickly my body, which has been slightly sleep-deprived and fighting off a cold, came completely to life to cartwheel across the room and throw kicks. I want to tell you how natural it all felt, how high I get off martial arts, and how when the other students started asking if I had taken Capoeira before, I could only uneasily reply, “Kinda.”
In short, it was good. My body screams at me everytime I rise out of my chair and I still smile at remembering the beat of the music. And memories flood back of my old studio with the sound of a berimbau playing behind the scenes, of feeling the burn of my legs learning dodges and their exits. Currently writing a more lengthy narrative of this. I figured I would at least blog this now as every waking moment of today, my muscles remind me of last night.
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